Letters to the Editor: 09.03.10

I hate babies, according to Ms. Salinas' column of Aug. 26 ("Prominent Republicans find a new enemy: babies.")

There is a prevalent belief that conservatives oppose immigration. This is not the case, nor have we declared war on immigrant infants. Our concern is that their parents are here illegally in the first place.

We welcome any immigrant who comes openly, works honestly, and helps to improve our fine country. A true immigrant assimilates himself into the land in which he lives. He will maintain his own cherished traditions – it is his right and duty to do so – but he respects the country and the culture which now sustain him. He will obey the laws, pay taxes, register to vote, and otherwise contribute to the general interests of the society in which he chooses to live. A man who sneaks into a country and demands the country assimilate itself to him, is not an immigrant. He is engaged in conquest.

Brandon Sagers

------

Thanks for support

I'd like to acknowledge the excellent media coverage given to the blessing and grand opening of The Stork's Home held Aug. 25 at The Ark Assessment Center and Emergency Shelter for Youth.

I'd also like to thank the elected officials, businesspersons and everyone else who attended the function.

Major funding for the wing was received from The John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation, The Charity League, The Meadows Foundation, Valero Texas Open Benefit for Children Golf Classic, the Ninnie L. Baird Foundation and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

The Ark provides assessment services and emergency shelter to abused/neglected children and youth, ages 0 through 17. The Stork's Home was built with the goal of moving the residents from the emergency shelter into long-term care on the premises.

The Ark Gala, our only annual fundraising event, will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23 at the Ortiz Center, 402 Harbor Drive, in Corpus Christi. The gala, which includes a silent auction and dinner, will feature keynote speaker Richard Santana, a former foster child, former gang member and founder of Homeboy Goes To Harvard Productions.

For more information, please call (361) 241-6566.

Delma Trejo, ARK executive director/administrator

------

Dishonest depiction

One has to wonder why the Caller-Times would publish a political cartoon – Mallard Fillmore by Bruce Tinsley – that is so completely dishonest in its depiction of public school classroom teachers. It seems you would question his authority and expertise to evaluate the knowledge, skill and ability of classroom teachers before you allowed him to portray them universally as stupid and incompetent. Clearly he does not have a clue about what teachers are doing in our public schools nor a fundamental understanding of their duties and responsibilities. This is a political diatribe intended to deliver a radically conservative and negative message about teachers and the NEA. His "comic" strip is, as Jacques Brel said in one of his songs: "Cute, cute, cute, in a stupid... way."

The Caller-Times owes our teachers an apology for running this series.

By the way, I am not a schoolteacher nor am I affiliated with any teachers or school systems. I just find this kind of political speech distasteful and inappropriate and really don't want to waste my time and money on it.

John Latimer

------

Double standard

Lying to Congress? Isn't this a double standard? It's OK for Congress to lie to the American people, but people such as Roger Clemens lying about his use of performance drugs (steroids) to Congress is against the law? Shouldn't we make Congress put their feet to the fire and face the same penalties about lying that the American public has to? If we made them do so, this would sure clean them out of office, without having to vote them out. "Calling the kettle black." Geez!